Shayama Chona: The Journey of the Goddess

Padma Shri,Padma Bhushan; Principal,DPS R.K. Puram,New Delhi; Hony.Director,DPS International School,New Delhi; Founder Member of NGO Tamana,working for the upliftment of multiple-handicapped children through its 3 schools,Tamana Special School,Nai Disha,and The School of Hope,after seeing closed avenues for her own child; Established the DPS Shiksha Kendra,a second-shift school at R.K. Puram for slum children; Has held post of Lecturer in renowned institutions across the country and abroad.Member of managing committees of a long list of educational institutions across India; Has been awarded the National Award for Child Welfare,2006,by the Ministry of Women and Child Development,one among a long list of prestigious awards from private institutions,NGO’s and government bodies.

My heartiest congratulations to Rashmi Anand who has chosen to start anew on the road less travelled. By accessing her own extraordinary uniqueness, she has captured through verse, the unfoldment of human potential and spirit, as a way to bring greater understanding and compassion into this world.

Rashmi’s earlier two books “Woman of the Elements” and “A heart that honours” bear testimony to the dictum “Soul force is greater than brute force”. She describes how we can transform our weaknesses into strengths and re-define our destiny. Her books are a call to wake up to the intrinsic beauty that lies within and around us, and discover the nurturing, caring and kinder places within ourselves.

My own personal involvement in and concern for women’s issues springs from the fact that apart from being a woman myself, and having had the privilege of being a daughter, sister, and later a wife and mother, I feel that each of us owes something of ourselves to humanity at large. And unless our voices resound, our attitudes change and our awareness on women’s issues increase, our efforts to promote gender equality and gender equity will bear no fruit.

And finally, I would like to make a confession, “Even if life is a challenge for each one of us, I would like to be born as a woman 7 times over, not to suffer, but to change the world”.

My best wishes to Rashmi for the success of her new book. Her positive attitude and approach to life will always be remembered.